Electrical tool



Nov. 6, 1934.

W. D. HAMER ELECTRICAL TOOL Filed March 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Willza m D. Hamez;

W7 ATTORNEYS NOV. 6, 1934. w HAMER 1,979,688

ELECTRICAL TOOL Filed March 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS 35 jacks;

Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STAT PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL TOOL I Application March 5, 1934, Serial No. 714,127

9 Claims.

. The present application relates to an apparatus for handling live high tension wires while said wires are strung.

The handling of live high tension wires is a dangerous occupation and the object of my present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for handling such wires efficiently and safely where it is desired to shift said wires for the purpose of substituting new insulators, substituting new cross arms, or in some instances even substituting new poles.

It is one further object of my invention to provide an apparatus which will permit'of the shifting of the wires vertically and laterally with a minimum efiort on the part of the operator and which will during such shifting oppose any tendency of the wire to shift under the influence of the wind or other outside forces.

The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 545,466, filed June 27, 1931.

For the purpose. of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings certain embodiments thereof.

Fig. 1 illustrates a plurality of high tension wires in place on their respective insulators, together with a multiplicity of special screw-jacks properly placed for the safe manipulation of the wires to laterally displace said wires to positions where the operator may safely work adjacent the insulators;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the several wires laterally displaced;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of one of the screw- Fig. 4 is a transverse section in line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view showing the use of a modified form of my handling device;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of one of the struts of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. '7 is an elevation looking from one direction of another of the struts embodied in the modified form of my invention, showing the strut in its retracted position;

Fig. 8 is a view of the strut shown in Fig. .7, looking at the same in another direction;

Fig. 9 is a view of the strut of Fig. 7 showing the same in its tensioned position; and Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the pivotal connection of the member 32.

In the drawings 10, indicates an ordinary wiresupporting pole having cross arms 11 upon which are supported proper insulators 12 to which the wires 13 are secured.

end of member 15 is a ratchet handle or lever 21 provided with a ratchet finger 22 adapted to engage teeth 28 formed in the periphery of nut 16, the arrangement being such that, by manipulation of the ratchet lever, nut 16 may v be turned and the effective length of the jack J thus varied as desired.

Hinged or pivoted to the lower end of member 15 is an anchor element 25 which is most conveniently in the form of a collar which may be readily clamped upon the pole.

It will be readily understood that the nutscrew-ratchet mechanism described above is only one of many forms of leverage mechanism which might be utilized for making possible convenient variation of length of the jack.

It will also be understood that other forms of pivotal (hinged) anchorage for the jack might be used.

Supposing the wires to be initially in place I as shown in Fig. l, the method of manipulation will be as follows:

Two jacks J will be associated with a wire 13 say closely adjacent an insulator and, each jack being given a proper length by manipulation of its leverage mechanism, the anchors will be positioned'at conveniently spaced points thereby providing a supporting triangle for the wire. Thereupon by proper manipulation of the leverage devices (one or both) the altitude of the triangle may be varied and the wire thus shifted laterally to desired position. Reversal of manipulation of the leverage devices will return the wire to its insulator so that it may be refastened in position. I I

It will be readily understood that, if the wire is initially unsecured to its insulator two struts may be associated therewith, these struts anchored, as described above, and the wire thereupon be readily and safely positioned when it may be 5 readily secured to its insulator.

In the structures illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9 one of the strut members is provided with a different form of mechanical leverage than that illustrated in the structures ilustrated in Figs. 1 110 to 4 and the other strut member may be without any mechanical leverage mechanism.

In this structure, for the purpose of identification, the upper strut member 26 is preferably of dielectric material and may be formed of dry hickory having a suitable coating of insulating varnish. The outer end of this strut member 26 is provided with a wire engaging element 18' of the type shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and this strut member is secured to the pole by a suitable clamping mechanism which may comprise a clampbar 2'7 provided at one end with a hooked portion 28 adapted to receive one end of a chain fastener 29. The opposite end of this chain fastener is connected to a takeup clamping member 30 provided with a ratchet takeup 31, whereby after the chain has been passed around the pole, through the medium of the ratchet takeup, it may be tightly clamped on the pole. Mounted on the clamping member 2'7 is a swivel clamp 32 through which the strut 26 is adapted to pass and this swivel clamp is provided with a tightening wrench 33 by which the clamp may be tightly engaged around the strut 26 to prevent longitudinal displacement of the strut. Preferably this clamp 32 is leather lined to prevent marring of the insulating varnish finish of the clamp.

The, for the purpose of identification, bottom strut 34 is likewise formed of dielectric material having a wire engaging member 18 like that on the strut 26 at its outer end. The loweri end of this strut is provided with a threaded nipple 35 adapted to screw thread into a threaded socket 36 on a lever extension of the strut. This lever extension preferably comprises the extension arm 37 of the strut 34 which arm carries the socket 36 and slidably mounted in this arm 37 is a spur member 33 having its lower end curved and sharpened as at 39. A lever 40 is pivotally connected to the spur member 38 at one end and intermediate of its end is connected by means of a pivoted link 41 with the extension 37.

The spur member 38 has secured near its lower end a pair of chains 42 and 43 one of which is provided with a hook 44 so constructed as to receive any of the links of the chain 42. This chain is adapted to be thrown around the post and to assist in maintaining the strut in position although as soon as any strain is thrown on the spur member 38 it will be driven into engagement with the post.

In addition to the spur member there is provided on the strut 34, preferably on the extension 37 thereof, an eye 45 adapted to be engaged by a block and tackle, if desired, the other end of which may be connected with the cross arm for a vertical lift of the strut.

In the operation of this structure the strut 26 is engaged with the wire to be manipulated and then clamped in position by the clamp 32 so that it will be held against lateral displacement relative to the post. The strut 34 is engaged with the wire to be manipulated and the spur 39 engaged with the post, with the lever 40 in tits retracted or downward position, that is, in the position shown in Fig. '7. In order now to shift the wire vertically it is merely necessary for the operator to manipulate the lever 40, by raising the same, which will extend the length of the strut 34 thereby raising the wire, it being borne in mind that the strut 26 cannot move laterally. If it is desiredto shift the wire to a considerable extent laterally strain may be put lengthwise on the strut 26 and by loosening the clamp 32 the strut 26 may be thrust outwardly. Likewise if it is desired to get a higher shift on the wire than is permissible by the mechanical lever mechanism inherent in the strut 34 a block and tackle may be connected to the eye 45 and the entire strut lifted vertically on the post.

It will be readily understood that the same method may be practiced when the wires are supported other than in the manner illustrated in the drawings.

The above-described method has been successfully practiced since the filing of my above identified application in handling high tension wires mounted in all of the commercial arrangements now commonly in use.

It will be noted that the clamp members 32, where they engage strut 26 are lined with leather and have an area very considerably greater than their area of contact with the pivot pin and member 33. As a consequence, member 33 may be manipulated to so tighten the clamp members 32 on the strut 26 as to prevent longitudinal slippage of the strut while at the same time permitting sufficient freedom of pivotal movement of the clamps 32 on bar 27.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for handling a strung live high tension wire on its supporting post comprising two rigid struts each including an insulating portion in its length and at least one including mechanical leverage manually operated lengthening 1'05 means, and means at the outer ends of each of said struts for connecting them to the Wire, said struts being pivotally connected at their 'mner ends to the supporting post at spaced points on the post to provide a pair of longitudinally rigid 110 members between the post and the wire, converging from the spaced points on the post to a common point on the wire, to permit a shifting of the wire by varying the length of one of said struts.

2. An apparatus for handling a strung live high tension wire on its supporting post comprising two rigid struts each including an insulating portion in its length and at least one including mechanical leverage manually operated lengthening means, and means at the outer ends of each of said struts for connecting them to the wire, said struts being pivotally connected at their inner ends to the supporting post at vertically spaced points on the post to provide a pair of longitudinally rigid members between the' post and the wire, converging from the spaced points on the post to a common point on the wire, to permit a shifting of the wire by varying the length of one of said struts.

3. An apparatus for handling a strung live high tension wire on its supporting post comprising two rigid struts each including an insulating portion in its length and at least one including mechanical leverage manually-operated lengthening means comprising a vertically-adjustable spur longitudinally movable relatively to the strut and having one en'Tl adapted for engagement with the post and a lever pivotally connected to said spur and connected by a link intermediate of its ends 140 with the strut, and means at the outer ends of each of said struts for connecting them to the wire, said'struts being pivotally connected at their inner ends to the supporting post at vertically spaced points on the posts to provide a pair of longitudinally rigid members between the post and the wire converging from the spaced points on the post to a common point on thewire to permit a shifting of the wire by thevarying of the length of one of said struts. V i

4. An apparatus for handling a strung live high tension wire on its supporting post comprising two rigid struts each including an insulating portion in its length and at least one including mechanical leverage manually-operated lengthening means, the other comprising a clamping member engageable around the post and clamped thereon, a second clamping member pivotally mounted on said first-mentioned clamping member and a shiftable member secured in said second clamping member, said struts being connected at their inner ends to the supporting post at vertically spaced points on the post to provide a pair of longitudinally rigid members between the post and the wire, converging from the spaced points on the post to a common point on the wire, to permit a lateral shifting of the wire by varying the length of one of said struts.

5. An apparatus for handling a strung live high tension wire on its supporting post comprising two rigid struts each ncluding an insulating portion in its length, means for clamping one of said struts to the posts including a clamping means for holding the strut against longitudinal displacement while permitting pivotal movement thereof relative to the post, a spur member on the other strut for engagement with the post and means for engaging said strut and connected at another point on said post for vertically moving said strut on said post, said struts being connected at their inner ends to the supporting posts at vertically spaced points and converging from the spaced points on the post to a common point on the wire.

6. An apparatus for handling a strung live high tension wire on its supporting post comprising two rigid struts each including an insulating portion in its length and at least one having a spur member at its inner end for engagement with the post and including mechanical leverage manually-operated lengthening means, and means at the outer ends of each of said struts for connecting them to the wire, said struts being pivotally connected at their inner ends to the supporting post at vertically-spaced points on the post and converging from the spaced points to a common point on the wire.

'7. An apparatus for handling a strung live high tension Wire on its supporting post comprising two rigid struts each including an insulating portion in its length and at least one having a spur at its inner end for engagement with the post, and means for engagement around the post to hold said spur in said engagement, and mechanical leverage manually-operated lengthening means, and means at the outer end of each of said struts for connecting them to the wire, said struts being pivotally connected at their inner ends to the supporting post at vertically spaced points on the post and converging from the spaced points to a common point on the Wire.

8. An apparatus for handling a strung live high tension wire on its supporting post comprising two rigid struts each including an insulating portion in its length and one including mechanical leverage manually-operated lengthening means, the other including a clamping member, a flexible holding member connected at one end to said clamping member by means for taking up the length thereof relatively to the clamping member and adapted to be detachably connected to the opposite end of said clamping member, and a second clamping member pivotally connected to the first clamping member and adapted to clampingly receive the strut and hold the same against longitudinal displacement, said struts being pivotally connected at their inner ends to the supported post at vertically spaced points on the post and converging from the spaced points to a common point on the wire.

9. A strut for handling a strung live high tension Wire on its supporting post comprising an insulating portion having means at its outer ends for detachably connecting the same to the wire and a threaded nipple at its inner end, mechanical leverage manually-operated lengthening means for said strut comprising an extension member having a threaded socket for receiving said nipple and having longitudinally slidably mounted there in a spur member, a lever pivotally connected at one end to said spur member and connected intermediate of its length with said extension through the medium of a pivoted link.

WILLIAM D. HAMER. 

